Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, a Danube-plain metropolis of about 1.7 million people known for the monumental Palace of the Parliament, a revived medieval Old Town, grand Calea Victoriei and its belle epoque 'Little Paris' boulevards. It combines Ottoman-era inns, Brancovenesc churches, interwar villas and communist-era blocks with a lively cafe, bar and live-music scene.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Greet shopkeepers, waiters and taxi drivers with 'Bună ziua' (good day) when entering and 'La revedere' when leaving; it is expected and noticed when missing
Dress modestly in Orthodox churches and monasteries: cover shoulders and knees; women often cover their hair in monasteries and borrow a wrap at the door
Romanians are hospitable; if invited to a home, bring flowers (an odd number, never even, which is for funerals) or chocolates and remove your shoes at the door
Tipping is customary: round up or leave 10% in restaurants; 5-10 lei ($1-2) for taxis and hotel porters
Traditional restaurants serve generous portions; sharing starters (mezeluri, brânzeturi, ciorbă) is normal
Romanian Orthodox Easter (usually April or May, a different date from Western Easter) is the biggest holiday; many businesses close from Good Friday to Easter Monday
Romanians are generally politically engaged and friendly; avoid joking about Communism or Roma discrimination, and treat the 1989 Revolution sites at Piața Revoluției with respect
Cash lei is still preferred at markets, small shops and for tips; cards are widely accepted in cafes, restaurants and malls in Bucharest
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Say 'Bună ziua' (day), 'Bună dimineața' (morning) or 'Bună seara' (evening) when entering shops, cafes and restaurants
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and monasteries such as the Patriarchal Cathedral and Stavropoleos Monastery
- Accept an offered coffee, țuică (plum brandy) or glass of wine from hosts; it signals respect
- Try mici (grilled minced-meat rolls), sarmale (cabbage rolls) with mămăligă, and papanași (fried cheese doughnuts with sour cream and jam)
- Toast with eye contact and say 'Noroc!' or 'Sănătate!' before drinking
- Carry small notes and coins for toilets, kiosks, tips and market stalls
- Take the metro for long distances; Romanians value punctuality in business but social events often start 15-30 minutes late
- Respect queues in banks, pharmacies and post offices: take a ticket number from the machine
Don't
- Do not give an even number of flowers or take chrysanthemums to a host; they are used at funerals
- Do not wear shorts, mini skirts or sleeveless tops inside churches or monasteries
- Do not photograph inside monasteries or during services unless a sign allows it, and never use flash near icons
- Do not call Romanians 'Gypsies' or confuse Romanian with Russian or a Slavic language; Romanian is a Romance language
- Do not refuse a toast repeatedly; accept and take at least a small sip to be polite
- Do not change money with people on the street or at Gara de Nord; use bank ATMs or licensed exchange offices (casa de schimb) with posted rates
- Do not leave valuables on cafe tables or in bags hanging on chairs; phone snatching happens in the centre
- Do not enter Piața Revoluției memorial or the Palace of the Parliament security area in a disruptive manner; follow staff instructions
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Handshake for first meetings (wait for a woman to offer her hand first), eye contact, 'Bună ziua'; friends greet with two cheek kisses, 'Salut' or 'Servus'
- Dining
- Wait for the host to start; say 'Poftă bună' (enjoy your meal) before eating; leave the cutlery in a V shape on the plate when finished; the bill is requested with 'Nota, vă rog'
- Dress
- Smart casual in Bucharest; evening restaurants and clubs in the Old Town dress up a little. Cover shoulders and knees in religious sites; pack a scarf
- Gifts
- Flowers (odd number, 1, 3, 5, 7), a bottle of wine or chocolate for hosts; avoid giving a knife or an empty wallet
- Business
- Meetings begin with polite small talk; business cards exchanged; punctuality expected; decisions are often hierarchical and can take time
- Tipping
- 10% in restaurants if service is not included; round up taxi fares or leave 5-10 lei ($1-2); 5-10 lei ($1-2) per bag for hotel porters
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Bună ziua
Hello / Good day
BOO-nuh ZEE-wah
Bună seara
Good evening
BOO-nuh SYAH-rah
Mulțumesc
Thank you
mool-tsoo-MESK
Vă rog / Cu plăcere
Please / You're welcome
vuh ROHG / koo pluh-CHEH-reh
Da / Nu
Yes / No
dah / noo
Cât costă?
How much does it cost?
kuht KOHS-tuh
Nota, vă rog
The bill, please
NOH-tah, vuh ROHG
Unde este...?
Where is...?
OON-deh YES-teh
Scuzați-mă / Îmi pare rău
Excuse me / Sorry
skoo-ZAH-tsee-muh / uhm PAH-reh ruh-OO
Vorbiți engleză?
Do you speak English?
vor-BEETS en-GLEH-zuh
Noroc!
Cheers!
noh-ROHK
Ajutor!
Help!
ah-zhoo-TOR
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Bucharest.
Main: Romanian Orthodox Christian (about 85 percent of Romanians); Roman Catholic, Greek-Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim minorities live in Bucharest
Sites: Patriarchal Cathedral (Dealul Mitropoliei), Stavropoleos Monastery (Str. Stavropoleos 4), Choral Temple synagogue (Str. Sf. Vineri 9), Cathedral of St. Joseph (Str. Știrbei Vodă 4, Catholic), Cretzulescu Church (Calea Victoriei)
Holy Days: Orthodox Easter (April or May, date varies), Christmas (December 25-26), Epiphany (January 6), Assumption of Mary (August 15, widely observed), St. Andrew's Day (November 30, patron saint of Romania)
Conversations: Faith is mostly traditional and private; avoid arguing about religion or politics. Crossing oneself three times is common in Orthodox churches; visitors need not imitate but should stay quiet and not point cameras at worshippers